Method for transmitting short message service using tag

ABSTRACT

A method for transmitting a SMS message including various personal information manager (PIM) information associated with one or more corresponding tags is provided. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the method comprises: displaying a main window in response to selection from a message menu; displaying a tag selection window in response to selection of a sub menu from the main window; creating a SMS message in response to selection of one or more tags from the tag selection window; and transmitting the SMS message including the one or more selected tags to a receiving terminal, wherein the one or more tags are provided to format certain content of the SMS message when displayed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims thebenefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to the KoreanApplication No. 2001-74721, filed on Nov. 28, 2001, entitled “Method forTransmitting Short Message Service Using Tag” the content of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting ashort message service (SMS) message from a mobile communicationterminal, and more particularly, to a method for transmitting a SMSmessage using a tag.

[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0005] Typically, a SMS message is created using an application programincluded in a mobile communication terminal (hereinafter, a terminal).This application program is referred to as an SMS editor. When a userselects a “message” menu included in a terminal, the SMS editor displaysa main window that can display the SMS message on a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) according to control signals provided by a controller.When a user selects a “Language” menu using a soft key in the mainwindow, the SMS editor displays a sub menu with options for a languagetype, Arabic numerals, capital letters or small letters of alphabet.

[0006] Selecting from the above options, a user can create a SMS messagethat includes text information, telephone numbers, or e-mailinformation. The user can then transmit the created SMS message to areceiving terminal.

[0007] According to the conventional method for transmitting an SMSmessage, it is not possible to provide various effects such as colors,blinking, and boldness to the text of the SMS message. Therefore, thetext transmitted to the receiving terminal is displayed without any sucheffects on the LCD of the receiving terminal. Accordingly, it is notpossible to emphasis any part of the forwarded message using the currentSMS messaging method, albeit even in messages that containadvertisements.

[0008] Also, the conventional method for transmitting the SMS message,do not support the robust transmission of personal information manager(PIM) information, or the easy storage of names and other informationitems such as e-mail addresses and the like into a phone book or addressbook of the receiving terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A method for transmitting a SMS message including variouspersonal information manager (PIM) information associated with one ormore corresponding tags is provided. In accordance with one aspect ofthe invention, the method comprises: displaying a main window inresponse to selection from a message menu; displaying a tag selectionwindow in response to selection of a sub-menu from the main window;creating a SMS message in response to selection of one or more tags fromthe tag selection window; and transmitting the SMS message including theone or more selected tags to a receiving terminal, wherein the one ormore tags are provided to format certain content of the SMS message whendisplayed.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the tag comprises at least one of a PIMtag or a text tag. A series of numbers are associated with the PIM tagand the text tag. The PIM tag comprises: a first PIM tag for identifyinga name; a second PIM tag for identifying an e-mail; a third PIM tag foridentifying one or more types of telephone numbers; and a fourth PIM tagfor identifying group information, wherein the group information definesa category to which a telephone number belongs. The text tag comprises:a first text tag for designating a color format; a second text tag fordesignating a bold format; a third text tag for designating a blinkingformat; and a fourth text tag for designating background screen colorformat.

[0011] In accordance with one embodiment, a method for receiving a shortmessage service (SMS) message comprises: receiving a SMS messageincluding one or more tags for formatting certain content of the SMSmessage; determining whether one or more tags are included in thereceived SMS message; analyzing the one or more included tags; andformatting content of the SMS message according to the one or more tags.

[0012] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a methodfor transmitting a SMS message, comprises: displaying a tag selectionwindow in response to selecting a sub menu from a main window; creatinga SMS message, having text content, using a predetermined tag selectedfrom the tag selection window; transmitting the created SMS message to areceiving terminal; determining whether a tag is used in the receivedSMS message; and applying a formatting effect to the text content of theSMS message in accordance with the respective tag used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communicationterminal according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2A illustrates a main window for creating a short messageservice (SMS) message, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

[0016]FIG. 2B illustrates a tag selection window for inserting a tag, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2C illustrates a tag displayed in the main window during theselection of the tag, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

[0018]FIG. 3 illustrates a tag selection window displayed on the mainwindow, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

[0019]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of processing theSMS message by a receiving terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile communication terminalaccording to one embodiment of the invention. The mobile communicationterminal comprises a controller 100, a keypad 110, a display 120, amemory 130, a signal processor 140, and an RF unit 150.

[0021] Controller 100 controls the operation of the mobile communicationterminal (hereinafter, terminal) and application software for creatingthe SMS message. A keypad 110, that is, an apparatus for inputting userdata, includes a plurality of number keys and various function keys.

[0022] Display 120 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other typeof display and displays the status of the terminal and the graphical ortextual manifestation of execution of an application software. Memory130 includes a random access memory (ROM), for example, for storing anapplication program (e.g., a tag editor), and an operation program.Memory 130 may also include an EEPROM and a random access memory (RAM)for storing user data.

[0023] Signal processor 140 modulates a speech signal input from amicrophone to speech data and provides the speech data to radiofrequency (RF) unit 150 or demodulates speech data input from the RFunit 150 into speech signals and outputs the speech signal through aspeaker. The RF unit 150 transmits and receives the SMS message andvarious data items through an antenna under the control of thecontroller 100.

[0024] The creation of the SMS message and a method of transmitting theSMS message by the terminal having the above structure will now bedescribed.

[0025] According to the present invention, a grammar tag and anapplication tag are defined to create a SMS message with personalinformation manager (PIM) and text effect information, and to transmitthe SMS message to a receiving terminal.

[0026] The grammar tag according to the present invention is defined asfollows. The start and the end of a tag are marked with “<” and “>” orother special characters, for example. After a tag start mark “<” isshown, a text form is shown. A text form is divided into a PIM tag and atext tag, as provided below.

[0027] 1) PIM tag

[0028] N: name

[0029] E: e-mail

[0030] T: type of telephone number (e.g., home, mobile, pager, business)

[0031] G: groups or categories to which the telephone number belongs(e.g., family, friend, to client, business contact, school)

[0032] 2) Text tag

[0033] C: color

[0034] B: bold

[0035] G: background screen color

[0036] S: blink

[0037] The types of telephones are distinguished from group informationby numbers in the T tag and the G tag. In some embodiments, the C tagand the G tag are generally used together with color information.

[0038] An SMS message editor is used to select the language, capitalletters of alphabet, small letters of alphabet, and special characters.According to the present invention, a tag editor application software isprovided that includes a tag selection menu that can be selected from amain menu. When the tag selection menu is selected, the controller 100displays a prompt with a configuration of, for example,“<[Tag][option]>”. It should be noted that the provided prompt is by wayof example and other embodiments of the invention may be implemented touse other characters or features to provide a prompt. The displayedprompt may be edited by the user to reflect the appropriate choice offormatting, according to the tags.

[0039] When a user selects a message menu option, the controller 100displays a main window that can create a SMS message on the display 120as shown in FIG. 2A. When the user selects a mode conversion key such asthe “language” key included in one side of the main window, for example,the user may select a mode from among the following options: language,Arabic numerals, capital letters of alphabet, small letters of alphabet,special characters and tag mode. Depending on implementation fewer oradditional modes or options may be provided. As such, it should be notedthat the modes and options discussed herein are by way of example onlyand can vary based on the type of terminal or application software used.

[0040] When the tag mode is selected, the controller 100 displays a tagselection window 10 that provides the user with the option to select aPIM tag and a text tag. The tag selection window 10 can be displayed inthe form of an additional area of the display 120 or a popup window asshown in FIG. 2B. Referring to FIG. 3, in accordance with one or moreembodiments, a series of numbers may be associated with a PIM tag and atext tag as displayed in the tag selection window 10, so that the PIMtag and the text tag can be selected using the number keys (0, 1, 2, . .. and 9) from the keypad 110.

[0041] As such, a user can select the PIM tag and the text tag forcreating the SMS message using the number keys. For example, a user mayselect tag N by inputting the number key “1”. If tag N is selected then“<N_>”, for example, is displayed on the main window as shown in FIG.2C. A user can input PIM related information by inputting a name in thecursor position of the “<N_>”. The under bar denotes the position of thecursor.

[0042] A user may select tag C by inputting the number key “5”, forexample, causing “<C_>” to be displayed on the main window. Thereafter,the user can edit the colors of the text and the background screen byinputting the desired color information at the cursor position. Forexample, the text color may be designated by inputting CR (red), CB(blue), CG (light green), CY (yellow), and CC (sky blue). Similarly, thecolor of the background screen may be designated by inputting GR, GB,GG, GY, and GC. As such the colors of the text and the background screencan be added/changed according to the color resolution supported by thegraphic controller of a mobile telephone.

[0043] For example, if the user creates a SMS message such as, “<N Honggil-dong> <Ehong@abc.com> <CY Hello>” using the PIM tag and the texttag, “Hong gil-dong hong@abc.com Hello” is displayed on the display ofthe receiving terminal. “Hello” is displayed in yellow. If the terminalis without a tag analyzing function, the content is displayed as acommon message including the special characters (e.g., “<”). If theterminal includes the tag analyzing function, the special characters arenot displayed.

[0044] It is possible to create a SMS message by inserting another taginto a tag. That is, according to the present invention, it is possibleto insert another tag C within a tag C, for example. If “<GB> <N honggil-dong> <Ehong@abc.com> <CY Hello I am <CR hong gil-dong> Nice-to meetyou>” is transmitted to the receiving terminal, the background color ofthe screen will be blue; “Hello I am” and “Nice to meet you” will beyellow; and the “hong gil-dong” will be red.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 3, the user, in one or more embodiments, mayselect the PIM tags (N, E, T, and G) and/or the text tags (C, B, G, andS) using number keys (1 through 7) displayed on the tag selection windowto insert the desired information into the cursor position of theselected tag, and thus create a SMS message. In certain embodiments, theSMS message is limited in length to 80 characters, for example,including the tags. Depending on implementation and selected language,the length limit may vary. After the SMS message is created, it istransmitted to the receiving terminal by way of the RF unit 150 inresponse to a user pressing a transmit key on the keypad 110, forexample.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 4, when the SMS message is received, at stateS10, the controller 100 of the receiving terminal analyzes the characterstring of the received SMS message and checks whether a tag is includedin the message at states S11 and S12, respectively. If no tag isincluded, the controller processes the SMS message using theconventional method, at state S17. If a tag is used, the controlleranalyzes the tag and accordingly applies the appropriate text to formatthe SMS message; and displays the formatted SMS message on the displayat state S13.

[0047] If the user presses a storage key at state S14, the controller100 checks whether PIM tags are included in the transmitted SMS messageat state S15. If so, at state S16, the information inserted into the PIMtags is automatically stored in a data management base, such as a phonebook, for example, based on the type of the tag used. For example, if aPIM tag, <N hong gil-dong> is included in the SMS message, thecontroller 100 stores the “hong gil-dong” in the section of the phonebook where names are stored. Therefore, the user does not need toperform any additional steps for inputting the name.

[0048] In other embodiments of the invention, the grammar tag and thetypes of tags used may be different from the ones discussed above.Additional tags can be added according to the provider of the terminal,the enterpriser of the terminal, and the performance of the terminal.

[0049] The technology described herein may be utilized by themanufacturing company of the terminal to provide functions correspondingto the respective tags without changing an SMS transmission format. Atag protocol may be used to provide service between the enterpriser ofthe terminal and the manufacturing company of the terminal.

[0050] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, it ispossible to emphasize certain content in a message, such asadvertisements, by applying various formats and effects such as color,blinking, and boldness to the text of the SMS message, using text tags.

[0051] According to one or more embodiments of invention, it is alsopossible to provide various PIM information items by transmitting theSMS message using the PIM tag and to store the transmitted PIMinformation in, for example, a phone book by way of a single key strokeon the keypad 110.

[0052] While this invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting a short message service(SMS) message, the method comprising: creating content for a SMSmessage; and including one or more tags in the SMS message to formatcertain content.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:transmitting the SMS message to a receiving terminal.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising providing a prompt in the form of<[tag][option]> to allow for one or more tags to be included in the SMSmessage.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a prompt to include a tag inthe SMS message comprises a first segment and a second segment, thefirst segment representing a tag selectable from a set of tags, and thesecond segment representing an option selectable from a set of optionscorresponding to said tag.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the firstsegment is followed by the second segment when displayed.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein a tag comprises a personal information manager (PIM)tag.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein a tag comprises a text tag. 8.The method of claim 6, wherein the PIM tag is selectable from a tagselection window.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the text tag isselectable from a tag selection window.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein the PIM tag may be selected by way of selecting a numberassociated with the PIM tag.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the texttag may be selected by way of selecting a number associated with thetext tag.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the tag selection window isactivated by way of selecting an option from a menu.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a tag comprises a personal information manager (PIM)tag and a text tag.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the PIM tagcomprises: a first PIM tag for identifying a name; a second PIM tag foridentifying an e-mail; a third PIM tag for identifying one or more typesof telephone numbers; and a fourth PIM tag for identifying groupinformation, wherein the group information defines a category to which atelephone number belongs.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one ormore types of telephone numbers are associated with one or morecorresponding numbers, wherein each number defines a type of telephonenumber.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the group information isrepresented by one or more numbers, wherein each number defines acontact category.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the text tagcomprises: a first text tag for designating a color format; a secondtext tag for designating a bold format; a third text tag for designatinga blinking format; and a fourth text tag for designating backgroundscreen color format.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the PIM tagcomprises a first PIM tag for identifying a name.
 19. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the PIM tag comprises a second PIM tag for identifyingan e-mail.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the PIM tag comprises athird PIM tag for identifying one or more types of telephone numbers.21. The method of claim 13, wherein the PIM tag comprises a fourth PIMtag for identifying group information, wherein the group informationdefines a category to which a telephone number belongs.
 22. The methodof claim 13, wherein the text tag comprises a first text tag fordesignating a color format.
 23. The method of claim 13, wherein the texttag comprises a second text tag for designating a bold format.
 24. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the text tag comprises a third text tag fordesignating a blinking format.
 25. The method of claim 13, wherein thetext tag comprises a fourth text tag for designating background screencolor format.
 26. A method for receiving a short message service (SMS)message, the method comprising: receiving a SMS message including one ormore tags for formatting certain content of the SMS message; determiningwhether one or more tags are included in the received SMS message;analyzing the one or more included tags; and formatting content of theSMS message according to the one or more tags.
 27. The method of claim26, wherein the formatting is applied to configure text included withinthe content of the SMS message.
 28. The method of claim 27, furthercomprising storing certain content of the SMS message in response to auser action.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the user actioncomprises the act of pressing a key on a keypad.
 30. The method of claim28, wherein certain content of the SMS message associated with a PIM tagis stored in response to a single act by a user.
 31. A method fortransmitting a SMS message comprising: displaying a main window inresponse to selection from a message menu; displaying a tag selectionwindow in response to selection of a sub menu from the main window;creating a SMS message in response to selection of one or more tags fromthe tag selection window; and transmitting the SMS message including theone or more selected tags to a receiving terminal, wherein the one ormore tags are provided to format certain content of the SMS message whendisplayed.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the tag is selected froma tag selection window using the number key of a keypad.
 33. The methodof claim 32, wherein the tag comprises at least one of a PIM tag or atext tag.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein a series of numbers areassociated with the PIM tag and the text tag, respectively.
 35. Themethod of claim 34, wherein the PIM tag comprises at least one of: afirst PIM tag for identifying a name; a second PIM tag for identifyingan e-mail; a third PIM tag for identifying one or more types oftelephone numbers; and a fourth PIM tag for identifying groupinformation, wherein the group information defines a category to which atelephone number belongs.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the texttag comprises at least one of: a first text tag for designating a colorformat; a second text tag for designating a bold format; a third texttag for designating a blinking format; and a fourth text tag fordesignating background screen color format.
 37. The method of claim 36further comprising: receiving a SMS message including one or more tagsfor formatting certain content of the SMS message; analyzing the SMSmessage to detect the one or more included tags; applying respectiveformatting associated with the one or more tags to corresponding contentof the SMS message; and displaying the SMS message according to theformatting.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the formatting isapplied based on a number associated with a text tag.
 39. The method ofclaim 38, further comprising: storing a first message content identifiedby the a first PIM tag, in response to a single action taken by a user.40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first message content is storedin accordance with a first number associated with the first PIM tag. 41.A method for transmitting a SMS message, comprising: displaying a tagselection window in response to selecting an option from a menudisplayed on a main window of a mobile terminal; creating a SMS message,having text content, using a first tag selected from the tag selectionwindow, wherein the first tag identifies a first text content;transmitting the created SMS message to a receiving terminal;determining whether a tag is included in the received SMS message; andapplying a formatting effect to the fist text content of the SMS messagein accordance with the first tag.